NAICS Code for Janitorial Services

Federal janitorial and custodial contracting is one of the most accessible entry points for small businesses, particularly SDVOSB and HUBZone firms. GSA, VA, DoD, and virtually every federal agency contracts cleaning services for their facilities. The NAICS choice matters because janitorial work can fall under a specific janitorial NAICS or get rolled into broader facilities support depending on the contract structure.

Primary NAICS codes for janitorial services

561720: Janitorial Services ($22M size standard) The core janitorial NAICS. Use this if your primary service is cleaning — office cleaning, hospital cleaning, school cleaning, specialty cleaning. Most dedicated janitorial firms primary here.

561210: Facilities Support Services ($47M size standard) Use this if cleaning is part of a bundled facilities services contract that also includes maintenance, grounds, security, or mailroom operations. Much higher size standard than pure janitorial — significant for growing firms.

561740: Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services ($8M size standard) For specialty carpet and upholstery cleaning operations. Low size standard, narrow competition pool.

561790: Other Services to Buildings and Dwellings ($8M size standard) Catch-all for specialty building services (pressure washing, window cleaning, etc.) that don't fit 561720 or 561740.

Secondary NAICS codes to consider

561730: Landscaping Services ($9.5M) For janitorial firms that also maintain grounds.

238990: All Other Specialty Trade Contractors ($19M) For firms doing light specialty trade work alongside cleaning.

561612: Security Guards and Patrol Services ($29M) For firms that offer security alongside custodial work at federal facilities.

Which code should be your primary

The core question: are you dedicated janitorial or bundled facilities?

Dedicated janitorial firms (cleaning is 80%+ of revenue) primary under 561720. The $22M size standard is tighter than 561210 but the NAICS is an exact match for your work.

Bundled facilities firms (cleaning + maintenance + grounds + security) primary under 561210. The $47M size standard is significantly higher — more than 2x — and gives longer runway as you grow. SBA classifies contracts under the dominant service when one service dominates; with true bundling, 561210 applies.

Most small contractors start under 561720 and transition to 561210 secondary as they bundle more services. Some successful firms eventually flip primary to 561210 when the revenue mix shifts.

Size standard considerations

The 561720 ($22M) vs 561210 ($47M) spread is one of the larger strategic decisions in facilities services. A firm doing $20M in janitorial work with light bundled services is close to graduating under 561720 but well under 561210. If the contract mix supports 561210 classification, the certification strategy materially extends.

561730 and 561740 at $9.5M and $8M respectively are much tighter. Firms doing landscaping or specialty cleaning primary there graduate out faster.

Federal demand snapshot

GSA is the largest federal janitorial buyer through Public Buildings Service operations. Many federal office buildings have dedicated janitorial contracts.

VA contracts extensive janitorial for medical centers and regional offices. SDVOSB set-asides are common — VA Vets First drives consistent preference for veteran-owned cleaning firms.

DoD contracts janitorial through base operating service (BOS) contracts at every major installation, typically as part of 561210 bundled services rather than standalone 561720.

Department of Education, SSA, IRS and other large civilian agencies contract building cleaning for their facilities.

SDVOSB, HUBZone, and 8(a) set-asides are all common in janitorial services. The 8(a) program sees heavy janitorial award volume because the NAICS is small-firm-friendly and program participants can grow revenue steadily under stable recurring contracts.

Next steps

Use the NAICS recommender to validate your code selection. For the 561720 vs 561210 decision and size-standard strategy, see the NAICS code finder guide.